Author Topic: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?  (Read 2254 times)

jade

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(UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« on: February 27, 2020, 03:22:29 AM »
Hi there,

We have a VW Golf 1.9 TDI diesel 56 plate with 157,000 miles to date, which we bought just over 5 years ago. We do approx 10-12k miles per year. We're having trouble weighing up whether it's time for a new (used) car or to keep going with what we have, and wanted some input. We paid £5k for it. It's not been the cheapest car to run to date. These are the servicing, MOT, and repairs costs:

2019 £949
2018 £1032
2017 £537
2016 £646
2015 £388

We had a new cam belt last year and been told it may need a catalytic converter soon as it failed the emissions test last year until they put fuel cleaner through. It will also need two new tyres soon.

We've been told these kind of diesel cars can keep going often to 200k miles sometimes. We know there's no crystal ball but wondering whether to stick with it bearing in mind the costs etc or if it's time for something else.. we're looking to pay around £5000 .. we're thinking a ford fiesta or similar (smaller engined petrol, as we do much shorter journeys most of the time these days) this time.. up to around 7 years old .. probably with about  50k mileage on the clock.

Thanks in advance!

Manchester

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2020, 06:33:17 AM »
How much is the car worth now do you think? 

Do you have an adequate amount of spare money to purchase a new vehicle at a whim (assuming the current car is written off and you only receive scrap value for it). 

A top mustachian would probably run the current car into the ground and see how long you get out of it.  But perhaps you could sell now and replace (at the same cost) with a more economical car? 

RWD

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2020, 08:05:20 AM »
Catalytic converters can be expensive. Do you know what it would run to replace yours? Tires are normal maintenance that even a new (used) car could need soon. You drive a decent amount per year, how would the fuel cost change between your current car and the replacement?

jade

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2020, 08:36:41 AM »
Hi Manchester,  it's worth roughly between £500-1000 depending if private or trading in (we'll probably trade) and yes, we have the money ready to buy. We've never really liked this car and thought we'd trade after five years but now we're here, we're thinking yes, would be more mustachian and environmentally friendly to keep going now. Hadn't thought of the option you suggested but that could be an idea.

Hi RWD, yes, I just called the garage and he said probably £600-700. With the new car we'd probably save £100-150 on tax and a bit on fuel and parts would be cheaper.


Playing with Fire UK

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2020, 03:55:30 AM »
Unless there is a reason you couldn't be without a car for a week or so I'd keep driving it until it needs another repair (not tyres, something bigger). I've found the best source of new (to me) cars is friends (or friends of my parents) who were trading up and had a really low offer of a trade-in from the place they were buying the new car from. It could be worth casually keeping an eye out?

jade

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2020, 06:10:20 AM »
Hi Playing with Fire UK,

That makes sense .. thank you for that idea. We're thinking the cat converter may be the next thing but it may also be ok so this will be a good way to look at it. Thanks to the helpful replies here this is the way we're leaning now. And good idea re keeping an eye out. Our last car was bought v quickly as the last one became undriveable so it's nice to take our time, this time round.

« Last Edit: February 28, 2020, 06:14:52 AM by jade »

MisterA

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2020, 12:08:12 PM »
We have a similar situation.

We found that the garage that services and MOT's can cost you dearly. We did have it serviced by a main dealer at one time, and I'm convinced we got fleeced and that things got replaced that didn't need it. We now have a great local private garage run by 2 older guys. Great service, and we don't get fleeced.

With the cambelt now replaced, I wouldn't sell just yet. Bear in mind that your new £5k car will depreciate by probably £1k in the first year, and could also still cost you dearly at the MOT. You're buying an unknown. Also, the value of your car isn't much anyway, so you aren't recouping much by selling it.

Here's what we do, bearing in mind we know that it's only for a few years.

Don't get it serviced, only replace what fails at the MOT. A service is only really an oil change, which helps in the long term (this assuming that you have had it serviced regularly up to now). But, keep all the fluids topped up.

Find a good private garage.

Earmark the money for your next car, and regularly think about what you might want to buy. If a massive bill comes in, you have the money, and know what to buy. If you're prepared to travel, and you know exactly what you want and have the money, you can buy any car you want  in 24 hours off autotrader.

Think about what you might buy just before the MOT, just in case.

The catalytic converter isn't really likely to fail. Just give your car some fuel additive and an Italian tuneup before the next emission test (MOT). Most diesels get carboned up due to not getting a good run.

That's what a true moustachian would do, hope it works out for you. But, that's without seeing your car, or knowing your circumstances.

jade

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #7 on: February 29, 2020, 01:56:01 AM »
Thanks for the advice MisterA.

We've been using Halfords who have been ok but probably more expensive on the whole but we have also got a good local private place too and been having more done there recently too so could use them in future.

We feel now that keeping on going with the golf makes sense for now .. thanks for confirming that too. It's running ok and as you say, a new car is an unknown.

We were thinking of postponing the service but good point.. we could just leave it. We have the money earmarked so we're ready to go when needed which is good.. nice not to be in a rush to buy. Hubby has some fuel additive but also likes the Italian tune up idea! 😊

Thanks again for the good advice and I hope your situation works out well too.

TacheTastic

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2020, 10:59:20 PM »
we're looking to pay around £5000 .. we're thinking a ford fiesta or similar (smaller engined petrol, as we do much shorter journeys most of the time these days) this time.. up to around 7 years old .. probably with about  50k mileage on the clock.


Just picking up on this little nugget. I had a similar thought with a lower budget a few years back. I prioritised lower miles over age, and got a 13 year old fiesta with 35k on the clock for £1,500 with warranty from a dealer. That was me splashing out for something reliable. From my experience, I think that really low mileage is way more important than age. You are looking for the supermarket runaround from an OAP who had it serviced twice a year as an ideal car. There will still be parts for cheap for a fiesta, even if you go for the even older pre 00 model, because there are still so many of them on the road.

skip207

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2020, 12:13:16 PM »
If you can change oil or replace brake pads you can save hundreds a year. 

None of it is special knowledge, lots of tutorials on youtube that are model and year specific.
Even better is on a car of that age there is no need to get special tools or special computers you can just DIY.

Some basic tools and a bit of knowledge you can do most easy stuff on your driveway. 

For example oil changes are easy these days, you can buy an oil vac for about £30 on ebay.  This means you can suck the old oil out through the dip stick tube without having to jack the car up or get underneath.  Plus most modern cars have their oil filters in the engine bay now rather than under the car.  Once you realise how easy it is you will be able to change your oil in about 20 mins which means you can actually change it more often too which will help prolong the life of the engine.  No mess and very simple.  I do mine twice a year for this very reason.

Costs me about £60 a time to do air and oil filter and replace the oil.  Main dealer would charge me the best part of £400 !!


jade

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2020, 11:02:35 AM »
we're looking to pay around £5000 .. we're thinking a ford fiesta or similar (smaller engined petrol, as we do much shorter journeys most of the time these days) this time.. up to around 7 years old .. probably with about  50k mileage on the clock.


Just picking up on this little nugget. I had a similar thought with a lower budget a few years back. I prioritised lower miles over age, and got a 13 year old fiesta with 35k on the clock for £1,500 with warranty from a dealer. That was me splashing out for something reliable. From my experience, I think that really low mileage is way more important than age. You are looking for the supermarket runaround from an OAP who had it serviced twice a year as an ideal car. There will still be parts for cheap for a fiesta, even if you go for the even older pre 00 model, because there are still so many of them on the road.

Sorry, I have only just seen your reply.. Great advice and good to hear your experience. Considering everything that's going on globally now, buying a £1.5k car compared to £5k sounds like a very good idea. Thank you.

jade

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Re: (UK) advice needed: time for a new (used) car or not?
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2020, 11:04:15 AM »
If you can change oil or replace brake pads you can save hundreds a year. 

None of it is special knowledge, lots of tutorials on youtube that are model and year specific.
Even better is on a car of that age there is no need to get special tools or special computers you can just DIY.

Some basic tools and a bit of knowledge you can do most easy stuff on your driveway. 

For example oil changes are easy these days, you can buy an oil vac for about £30 on ebay.  This means you can suck the old oil out through the dip stick tube without having to jack the car up or get underneath.  Plus most modern cars have their oil filters in the engine bay now rather than under the car.  Once you realise how easy it is you will be able to change your oil in about 20 mins which means you can actually change it more often too which will help prolong the life of the engine.  No mess and very simple.  I do mine twice a year for this very reason.

Costs me about £60 a time to do air and oil filter and replace the oil.  Main dealer would charge me the best part of £400 !!

Thanks skip207, I've saved what you wrote, that sounds like a v good skill to learn.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2020, 11:08:34 AM by jade »